The chinese are the biggest consumer of sharks and no real idea of the impact they have on the shark population. Perhaps now with a national sports icon like Yao Ming saying no to sharks, there may be some dent on the extreme pressure on the shark population.

I just happened to have Mike Rowes Dirty Jobs .. Jobs that Bite stuff on TV as I was perusing these posts. Agree that it is nice to see a different slant on sharks rather than them theorizing once again whether it was a Great White Shark or a Bull Shark that swam into fresh water and chewed its way through bathers in Matawan Creek oh so many years ago.

Yes, it was heartening to me to read about Yao's stance on shark fin soup. It will take much much more to change the prevailing views in China, but this *is* a significant start. Wouldn't it be great if Jackie Chan would do the same?!

Shark Week also has a new video podcast up now at iTunes. I was impressed with the content. The Shark Learning episode was particularly poignant for me because it expressed what I've come to see first hand in my work on the shark diving boats, namely that sharks are intelligent.

Much must be done to change the world's views on sharks and shark finning and fishing, and Yao's stand is a very positive step.

Actually it was covered by a few newspapers as footnotes and downplayed, mainly because it is against Chinese government policy to speak against anything "chinese". But it has been heard by the public. The chief chef of Lei Yuen (lei Gardens) a restaurant famous for it's shark's fin soup, also supported him,and has urged the hotel to stop serving it.
I mean anytime there is activity in the "enemy" camp it's a good thing.

Drew
Moderator
"Journalism is what someone else does not want printed, everything else is public relations."

"I was born not knowing, and have only had a little time to change that here and there.

WildAid and China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA) jointly launched the China Wildlife Consumption Survey from October 2005 to January 2006 in 16 Chinese cities including Beijing and Shanghai. This is the second survey after CWCA's initial survey in 1999. The goal of the survey is to provide in-depth data and information on the status of wildlife consumption in China and identify public attitudes toward wildlife consumption after SARS and Avian Flu.

The survey results, released in Beijing on April 18, 2006, suggest that the percentage of the public eating wild animals has decreased, and the public awareness on wildlife conservation has improved. The Chinese government is taking active measures to stop illegal wildlife consumption for the sustainable development of wildlife resources.

Mr. Steve Trent, President of WildAid said that "while the results of the survey can give some encouragement, we must keep in mind the depth of the challenge that faces the conservation of wildlife, not just in China, but globally. Over 15,500 species are known to face extinction and the likelihood is there are many more which have escaped the notice of scientific study. These include 1 in 3 of all amphibians; half of all freshwater turtles; 1 in 8 bird species and 1 in 4 mammals. 90% of each of the world's large ocean species – like cod, swordfish, halibut – have been lost since the 1950's and others marine species, such as shark, are now subject to a rapid and accelerating decline. If we are to be successful in conserving the wildlife resources that ultimately sustain us all, we must reduce our consumption of wildlife, bringing it under control and within sustainable limits. And as a first, vital step stop, once and for all, the illegal trade in wildlife. WildAid believes China can become a world leader in this endeavour and we encourage all parties to take further, stronger and more effective action toward this end and at the same time pledge our support."

To help protect China's wildlife resources, CWCA and WildAid encourage the public to adopt consumption patterns away from wildlife consumption. In order to better protect China's wildlife resources, capture from the wild needs to be terminated and commercial utilization of endangered and valuable species prohibited. Law enforcement should also be reinforced to eliminate the poaching, smuggling and illegal trade in wildlife.

Just for the record I was amazed that in Helsinki most of the Chinese restaurants [not that there are many over there] have, openly, in their menu Shark Fin Soup! I just stormed out of one when I noticed.
In Svalbard [not surprisingly] pubs have in their menu Mink Whale Carpaccio!
So much for the "so called" civilised countries...